Compare towns
Highgate vs Ira vs Troy vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Highgate | Ira | Troy | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
381Lowest |
1,749 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Ira and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Troy School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.